Airs is a bootleg shop in Nishi Shinjuku, a 'must go to' for any serious music fan. From the pics that cover the walls throughout the store you can guess that some people may even end up buying their own work!

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Friday, November 16, 2007

..is a comedian on a show called "Enta no Kamisama" (the gods of entertainment). He's the guy that does the presentation style sketches, really funny stuff. He's also married to the very desirable Fujiwara Norika! Here's another favorite (with subs):

Every weekend on koen dori, loads of wanna-be idols line the streets and footpaths to perform. Otaku (nerdy JP guys) take advantage of this opportunity by crowding around them and filling their memory cards with.. memories??

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

This is a term that Japanese people use towards foreigners in Japan when they behave disrespectfully. If there was ever a need to give an example of this term, I would show this video. I can't imagine Japanese getting away with this in a western country..

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Last Friday the media went mad once again over the shamed boxer. Daiki, his trainer and his brother attended a press conference in which they publicy apologised for their errant behaviour in the recent title fight, and also announced their father's retirement from the sport (he had been banned for life anyway..). These pictures were taken by Andy McGovern at the press conference before the fateful bout.

Seated at the press conference is the Japan Boxing Commissioner Yasukochi, Kameda, and his trainer Kaneishi.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Ikimono Gakari is a bit of a shooting star here at the moment, she's on a massive nation wide tour and has a lucrative tie in with AU for her new single. I probably wouldn't know her from a bar of soap but for the fact that my buddy (and sometime Shirts drummer) Tak is drumming for her on her tour. Tak had a break between TV show tapings yesterday and came over and programmed some drums for the upcoming Shirts shows, and at some stage showed me this youtube vid that they had taped for some music TV show last Monday.

Nova has officially filed for bankrupcy. Needless to say there are many disgruntled students that forked out thousands for lessons that will not be taught. As teachers many years ago, we used to hate how the staff were trained to sell people dreams that weren't generally attainable ie. english conversation proficiency, they would easily slip into sociopath sales mode and put some unemployed dilbert into debt to get their precious branch numbers up. Not all staff were that blatantly heartless, just most... Around 4,400 english teachers have also found themselves unemployed and unpaid. There's a great (unfortunately unembeddable) NHK news item from yesterday here, and of all the crappy anti-Nova blog art being posted on Let's Japan etc. the only mildly humourous (and barely postworthy) were these:

Like so many others, I came to Japan to work as an english conversation instructor for what was then the biggest employer of foreign nationals in Japan, Nova. There were evident dodgy business practices, and daily frustrations with administration, but for my 2.5 years that I worked there, I learned a lot and had a great time. Seems that the bubble has really burst for them now, even my old school has closed.. :(

This video was from a month or two ago but the most recent rumblings have included: sudden school closures nationwide, the co-founder and highest level foreigner resigning, the losing of ALT dispatch contracts, teachers salaries being withheld and in some cases, rent not being paid on their apartments to the point where they are being evicted etc etc..

Thursday, October 18, 2007

'Daiki drama' continued yesterday when the disgraced boxer appeared at a press conference, supposedly held to enable his public apology. With his head shaved and missing his trademark dark glasses, he didn't actually say anything, but merely sat with head bowed for the short time he was in attendance. All of a sudden he appeared to have passed out, and was quickly helped to his feet (by his a couple of his minions) and led away to the kind of paparazzi flash explosions that only a Britney or a Lindsay could truly love.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Daiki Kameda is a Japanese professional boxer in the flyweight division. On October 11 2007, Kameda lost to Daisuke Naito, the reigning WBC flyweight champion. Despite making comments before the match that he will commit seppuku if he lost, his manager has confirmed that he will not. Towards the end of the bout, much to everyones surprise, he suddenly picked up opponent. This unusual act earnt him a suspension by the Japan Boxing Commission for one year and has fuelled a media frenzy which has seen virtually every major Japanese network constantly both replaying the act, and discussing it at length. Kameda has made it his custom to sing a song for the audience after each of his victories, needless to say, he didn't sing after this one..

This photo is by my buddy Andrew McGovern, who was shooting the fight. Check out more of his work here.

This is officially the most time consuming post I have ever made.. >_<

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Sawajiri is regarded as a notorious actress in Japan. At the press conference for her new film Closed Note, she looked pretty darn unhappy. When reporters asked her questions, she barely responded. She is called "the Queen" and "Erika-sama" because she is infamous for her selfish behavior. Most of the Japanese media treated her impolite and arrogant manner as top news!